Coffee/Side Tables

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We're still in the progress of getting furniture for our new house, and I figured it would be a good way to put my slowly improving welding skills to use. The plan is to make 2 side tables and a coffee table, with the coffee table sized just so that our giant Ikea foot stool thing will store underneath it. They will be painted flat black, and the tops will be cast from concrete (something else I've never done before). Since I already had some scrap 3/4" and 1" 14ga square tubing, I decided to use the 3/4" for the side tables and the 1" for the coffee table. I only had enough scrap for one side table and about half of the coffee table so I had to buy some new stock, meaning I'm in about $25 for the metal materials. Everything is being done with my O/A torch.So far I've made the frames for the two side tables, of which I'm posting pictures:Pics 1 & 2) First step was to cut and clean the metal. I got to use my new/used chop saw for the first time, which definitely made life easier instead of making rough cuts with the reciprocating saw and then squaring them up with the grinder like I was before.Pics 3 & 4) Next, I squared everything up and tacked the two sides together.Pic 5) Finally, I connected the two sides and tacked things up. Attached ImagesLast edited by ian1386; 01-23-2012 at 02:42 PM.
Reply:Pic 1) Once everything was tacked together, I finished up the welds.What I don't show is that after finishing up the welds, the legs warped and were no longer square. Luckily they weren't off by that much and it was only 3/4" tubing, so I was able to muscle it back to square.Pic 2) When making my second table, I learned from the first. Instead of tacking everything then finishing at the end (unclamped), I finished any welds that I could when the side were separate, then connected the two sides and finished up the welds when everything was still clamped together and square. This second time everything was still square at the end...no bending needed!Pic 3) Once I was done, I cleaned up the visible welds to prep for painting.Pic 4) Two tables down, ready for paint! Well, not quite...I still want to cap off the bottom ends of the legs, but that shouldn't take long... Attached Images
Reply:nice, and nice to see someone gaswelding...
Reply:Forgot to mention that any and all criticism/suggestions/etc. are welcome. I don't take anything personally, so don't think you'll offend me.Also, I did have a question regarding the strength of these projects. Assuming my welds are good, what sorts of strength can you expect from these types of tubing? The side tables are 18x18x18", and I'm guessing the concrete top will weigh somewhere between 30-50lbs. I don't worry about the top, but if a 200lb person tried sitting on top of it will I have a problem?Similarly, when I go to make the coffee table which will be larger (50"x31"x18" tall) and have a heavier top (probably close to 200lbs!), should I be adding additional support anywhere? Perhaps cross supports parallel to the short edge of the table under the top?
Reply:Ian, nice work on the o/a welding.  Bob
Reply:nice job with the O/A welding. better than I could do if my life depended on it. as for the strength? I'd keep a bunch of stuff on them so now one can sit on them. then you don't have to worry about it. Personal oppinion. Chairs are for sitting on. Tables are not. I'd be more concerned about it folding laterally than bending in the middle, though it would probably do both if it failed. I'm not sure what kind of surface those are going to be on, but you might want to take some time to think about the feet, and what kind of damage they will be doing to said surface.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammernice job with the O/A welding. better than I could do if my life depended on it. as for the strength? I'd keep a bunch of stuff on them so now one can sit on them. then you don't have to worry about it. Personal oppinion. Chairs are for sitting on. Tables are not. I'd be more concerned about it folding laterally than bending in the middle, though it would probably do both if it failed. I'm not sure what kind of surface those are going to be on, but you might want to take some time to think about the feet, and what kind of damage they will be doing to said surface.
Reply:Originally Posted by ThorsHammerI'm not sure what kind of surface those are going to be on, but you might want to take some time to think about the feet, and what kind of damage they will be doing to said surface.
Reply:Originally Posted by ian1386Yeah, I had thought about that. It's going to be on carpet so it won't damage anything, but it's certainly going to leave dents in the carpet...
Reply:Those look really good. I remember when you posted about your welding table. It was nice to see gas welding, glad to see you are still using it. I have had my torch for over a year and have yet to try it, hopefully soon.  Please include pics of the tops, looking forward to that.
Reply:Those really look nice!
Reply:For household use, I don't think you need to worry about strength.  They'll be quite stout, but some braces would make them bullet proof.  Maybe even allow for the use of a second glass shelf for books, etc.  Nice work!-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:I did a table and bench set much like that but it was just steel for the corners  and ash tenoned into the corner brackets for the members. It is plenty strong. I have only had one roll pin fail in one of the benches. The benches have ash feet I made up and they are still holding strong after 4 years.